In a major counter-terrorism operation under Operation Nagni TOP, the Indian Army, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and BSF Kashmir, busted a terrorist hideout in the Kalaroos area of Kupwara district, recovering a significant cache of arms and ammunition.

The three-day joint search operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs. During the search, security forces recovered one pistol, two magazines, twelve grenades, ammunition, and other war-like stores, the Chinar Corps said in a post on X.

The operation comes amid heightened security measures in Jammu and Kashmir on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.

In a separate recent incident, a joint team of the Indian Army, J&K Police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group neutralised one terrorist in the Akhal Devsar area of Kulgam. The encounter began late Friday after credible inputs indicated terrorist presence, leading to an intense overnight gunfight.

The Indian Armed Forces are set to place large-scale orders for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile following its extensive use during Operation Sindoor, where it caused significant damage to Pakistani air bases and army cantonments.

According to top defence sources, a high-level defence ministry meeting is expected to approve the procurement of a substantial number of BrahMos missiles. The Indian Navy plans to equip its Veer-class warships with the weapon, while the Indian Air Force will integrate the air-launched variant into its Su-30 MKI fighter jets. Ground-based versions are also set for acquisition.

During the four-day conflict, the BrahMos was a primary strike weapon for the IAF, delivering precision hits on key Pakistani military infrastructure, including terror headquarters of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba in Punjab province. Its performance further damaged Pakistani air bases, prompting retaliatory moves from the Pakistan Army to shield militant assets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the role of indigenous weapons in the operation, saying, “During Operation Sindoor, the world saw the capabilities of our indigenous weapons. Our Air Defence Systems, missiles, and drones have proved the strength of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, especially the BrahMos missiles.”

The BrahMos, an Indo-Russian joint venture, is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile, capable of striking targets with high precision at ranges up to 500 km.

Uttarakhand Police have arrested a 35-year-old man from Chhattisgarh’s Durg district for allegedly cheating a retired Subedar Major of the Army Medical Corps of ₹34.17 lakh through a fraudulent foreign investment scheme.

The accused, identified as Har Vilas Nandi, is believed to be the mastermind of an international cybercrime network, according to the cyber cell of Uttarakhand Police. Police recovered foreign currency from the UAE, Oman, and the USA, along with an Aadhaar card, PAN card, ATM card, UAE resident card, and a mobile phone.

Investigations revealed that Nandi had lived in Dubai for 10 years, with his Facebook and email accounts created there. His email ID, linked to his bank account, was operated from the Philippines, and the cheated funds were traced to his account before being withdrawn in Dubai. SSP (STF) Navneet Singh Bhullar said Nandi’s account had over ₹3.46 crore in transactions within a month and was linked to at least 37 cybercrime complaints nationwide. He had also allegedly paid Chhattisgarh labourers between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh for their bank accounts, later using them for fraudulent transfers.

Nandi had been absconding for a long period, hiding in the Naxal-affected Dantewada region. He was tracked through technical surveillance, arrested in Bhilai, and brought to Dehradun on transit remand.

The case began in 2024 when the retired Subedar Major lodged a complaint, stating he was duped by a fake foreign investment company, Apollo India Private Equity (IV) (Mauritius) Ltd, discovered through Facebook. The victim was approached by a woman posing as a trading assistant and a man as a customer service manager, eventually persuading him to invest in multiple transactions.

A mentor figure named “John Peter Hussain” even conducted trading sessions to gain the victim’s trust. Through coordination with banks, service providers, and Meta, investigators identified Nandi as the key suspect, uncovering that the fraud had cross-border operations spanning Dubai and the Philippines.

Police say the arrest marks a major breakthrough against organised cybercrime networks targeting ex-servicemen and other vulnerable individuals across India.

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, is signaling a strategic pivot toward India’s eastern frontier, leveraging recent political changes in Bangladesh and a thaw in relations with Washington to recalibrate Islamabad’s military approach.

In an interview with The Economist, Pakistan’s military spokesman Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry remarked, “We’ll start from the East,” hinting at the possibility of opening a new front along India’s vulnerable northeastern corridor. The move follows Bangladesh’s early-2025 regime change, which brought to power a hardline Islamist administration more sympathetic to Pakistan’s interests. This shift has reportedly revived cross-border militant logistics, arms trafficking, and madrassa networks along the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Munir’s eastern strategy is built on three pillars: rebuilding ties with Dhaka, regaining U.S. strategic patronage, and shifting toward hybrid warfare. His June 2025 meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, coupled with a state honor for CENTCOM commander General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, marked a significant warming in U.S.–Pakistan relations. Trump’s public criticism of New Delhi and hints at economic leverage have further emboldened Islamabad.

Military analysts note Pakistan’s growing emphasis on irregular tactics—cyber-attacks, disinformation campaigns, and proxy infiltrations—designed to strain India’s security resources. This approach follows India’s successful Operation Sindoor, which showcased long-range strike capabilities, potentially deterring conventional offensives.

India has responded by reinforcing surveillance and troop presence in Assam and Meghalaya, expanding riverine patrols along the Brahmaputra valley, and conducting joint drills with Myanmar. Diplomatically, New Delhi is engaging ASEAN and Gulf partners to curb Islamabad’s regional maneuvering.

Experts warn that Pakistan’s “start from the East” doctrine could escalate tensions between two nuclear-armed nations. While hybrid tactics may bypass conventional deterrence, India’s proven readiness to retaliate beyond the Line of Control remains a significant risk factor for Islamabad.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the recruitment of 58,000 additional personnel for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) over the next five years, anticipating the development of new industrial hubs in areas currently affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). The move follows President Droupadi Murmu’s sanction to increase the CISF’s authorised strength from 2 lakh to 2.2 lakh.

With the present CISF strength at 1.62 lakh, the expansion will see around 14,000 personnel inducted annually. A senior CISF official said the new recruits will strengthen security in key sectors including aviation, sea ports, thermal and hydro power plants, nuclear installations, and high-security prisons in Jammu and Kashmir.

The geographical spread of LWE violence has reduced significantly over the past decade, from 126 districts across ten States in 2013 to 38 districts in 2024. With Home Minister Amit Shah setting a March 2026 deadline to end Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh, the government expects industrial growth in these areas, requiring enhanced CISF deployment.

The CISF recruited 13,230 personnel in 2024, with another 24,098 currently in process. Demand for CISF security has surged following Operation Sindoor, with 35 requests under process and nearly 100 pending from public sector units and private organisations.

Over the past year, the CISF has taken charge at seven new locations, including the Parliament House complex, Ayodhya airport, NTPC’s coal mining project in Hazaribagh, the National Institute of Virology in Pune, the Buxar and Jawahar thermal power projects, and the Beas Satluj Link project in Mandi.

Established in 1969 with just three battalions, the CISF today secures 359 critical establishments across India, providing integrated security to vital infrastructure and strategic projects.

India has issued a sharp rebuttal to fresh criticism from the United States and the European Union over its continued purchase of Russian oil, calling the pressure “unjustified and unreasonable”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted that India’s energy imports are driven solely by national interests and energy security, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s latest accusations.

The strongly worded statement came hours after Trump accused India of buying “massive amounts” of Russian crude and reselling it for “big profits”. The US President has already announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods from August 1, 2025, citing what he called unfair trade practices and India’s “anti-American” alignment with the BRICS grouping.

The MEA explained that India turned to discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine conflict disrupted traditional supply chains, with many Middle Eastern suppliers diverting cargoes to Europe. The ministry pointed out that Washington had initially encouraged such purchases to stabilize global energy markets, but is now criticising India despite its own ongoing trade with Russia.

Highlighting what it called Western hypocrisy, the statement cited 2024 EU–Russia bilateral trade in goods worth €67.5 billion, along with €17.2 billion in services. It noted that European imports of Russian LNG reached a record 16.5 million tonnes in 2024, surpassing previous highs. The ministry also listed European imports of fertilizers, chemicals, steel, and machinery from Russia, as well as continued US imports of uranium hexafluoride, palladium, and fertilizers.

The MEA stressed that India’s oil imports are essential to maintain affordable and stable fuel prices for its 1.4 billion citizens, adding that, like any major economy, India has the right to safeguard its national interests.

The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington, with the potential to impact billions in bilateral trade. India has yet to announce any countermeasures but signaled it will continue sourcing energy based on economic needs rather than political pressure.